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Crows Nest Cottage

Gardenstown
Aberdeenshire
AB45 2NH
 
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Offering Group Accommodation to see the Northern Lights luxury detached Holiday Cottage, Jacuzzi, WIFI and commanding views of the Northern Skies and Sea in the beautiful picture postcard village of Gardenstown.

Crows Nest Comfortably sleeps 8 people in 4 bedrooms perfect for large families and group self catering seeking the Northern Lights or a Seaside Holiday perched on the hillside overlooking the beautiful Gamrie bay and Moray Firth comfortably accommodating 8 people. Situated off a secluded shared private road this cottage is aptly named for its high vantage point over the beautiful Gamrie Bay. Recently renovated this beautiful cottage boasts a large lounge with solid oak flooring, a handmade kitchen with range cooker, 2 bedrooms on the ground floor and 2 bedrooms on the first floor. A bathroom on each floor, one with whirlpool bath and the other with a designer oval bath and separate shower. On the ground floor there is also a dining room and separate utility room.

So Welcome to the “land of Macbeth” with literally miles and miles of beautiful coastline to explore with numerous caves and ruins of castles providing homes for a wide range of wildlife. The locality of Gardenstown offers a food store, two cafes, a restaurant, pub, bakery, a post office, surgery and traditional crafts shops are all nearby. multiples of golf courses, shooting, fishing, shopping, pony trekking, historic buildings, castles and whisky distilleries (The Whisky Trail)

• Cottage, Sleeps 8 up to 9, Luxury Detached, Seafront Village Location, Elevated Sea Views, 2 Bathrooms, Fridge / Freezer, Washing / Dryer, Free WIFI, Pets Welcome, Car Parking, Gardens, Large TV / DVD’s, Jacuzzi bath, Central Heating, Oak Flooring, Parking, Bedding and Towels.

Unique North Coastal Cottage Sea Views Hot Tub

The Locality of Gardenstown

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The picturesque coastal village of Gardenstown (known locally as ‘Gamrie’) Gardenstown is easily accessible from Aberdeen along the A947 heading north via Banff or just three and half hours’ drive from the airports of Glasgow (Prestwick and International) along M80. Again from the Scottish capital of Edinburgh via M90 motorway in three hours time.

Gardenstown’s main business is fishing; however, there is a tourist market too, partially due to the many local golf courses. Gardenstown has a pub and Restaurant The Garden Arms Hotel Tel 01261 851260, a bakery, a butchers, a post-office, a small art gallery and a very good fish restaurant (which only seats about 12 people and gets booked up well in advance) The Harbour Restaurant, Gardenstown Tel 01261 851690

Aberdeenshire and Moray – their Fantastic Coastlines

Aberdeenshire has some of the most wonderful rural scenery to offer for you, along with the pretty local village of Gardenstown, there are also the coastal villages of Cullen, Findochty, Portsoy and Banff. So If you are looking for a relaxing holiday, somewhere to wind down and relax, then look no further, this accommodation offers you that and so much more.

The Moray Firth coast is also haven for wildlife, and you can often see dolphins, seals, otters, whales and falcons throughout the year. Roughly one half of its border consists of amazing coastline ranging from the awesomely rugged to the most wonderfully beautiful. The sunsets on the Moray coastline in themselves are renowned for their beauty as many a visitor will testify, its Northerly latitude and position making it a good place to even see the mysterious “Aurora Borealis” Northern lights.

The Landscapes

The land border runs through tremendous countryside, craggy mountains and desolate moors all indicating the feast of wonder and enjoyment held within an area of outstanding natural beauty. Aberdeenshire is awash with history and historic buildings, Neolithic stone age circles, iron age pictish carved standing stones, vitrified forts and medieval castles and keeps. Spend time touring the Moray cost, 16 miles away, with its picturesque fishing villages. fishing heritage centres, sea aquarium and historic harbours. Just a short distance away the Cairngorm National Park has an excellent selection of Skiing walking and cycling trails including hill, forest and river walks.

Skiing in the Cairngorms – yes you can !

Is within easy reach and on a clear, sunny day and with good snow, you can enjoy some decent skiing. However, at weekends, in conditions like these, expect the slopes to be very busy. Glenlivet ideally placed in the Cairngorms, offers easy access to both alpine (downhill) and nordic (cross-country) skiing, as well as the increasingly popular snowboarding. The high season is from January to April but it is possible to ski from as early as November to as late as May. (3 and 7 day Special prices available…please ask for details of availability)

The Lecht Ski Resort

Within and easy 60 minute drive you can reach the Lecht ski resort www.lecht.co.uk Tel (01975) 651440. This fantastic activity centre is best suited to beginners and intermediates, featuring an excellent Dry Ski slope. The longest natural run being 900m, there is also a network of short lifts on both sides of the A939 Cockbridge–Tomintoul road. Straddling the A939 on the famous Cockbridge to Tomintoul road, the Lecht 2090 sits feet above sea level amid the beauty of the Eastern Cairngorms. This natural playground offers exciting outdoor activities throughout the year from Deval Karts / ride (incl. Uplift), Quad Bikes / session, Fun Karts / session, Kiddie Karts / session, Chairlift / return ride, Summer Ski or Board.

Resort altitude: Top: 793m – bottom: 643m. Lifts in area 14 – up to date snow reports also the www.lecht.co.uk/wap

Local Activities

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Turriff

Close by is the market town of Turriff gained burgh status in 1512. Over the years, Turriff has developed as an important market town and service centre for the agriculture sector. Modern day Turriff is still the main centre for its rural farming hinterland, with a range of local shops, swimming pool, golf course, caravan park and sports centre. The cottages are close to nearby Turriff and give easy access to golf, shooting, fishing, shopping, pony trekking, historic buildings, castles, whisky distilleries (The Whisky Trail) and some of the most wonderful scenery that rural Aberdeenshire has to offer for you and your family. Turriff Show is perhaps best known for the ‘Turra Show’. Dating from 1864, this annual two-day agricultural show in August is one of the largest in Scotland, regularly attracting around 40,000 visitors per annum, and serving to highlight the importance of agriculture to the local area. Turriff Golf Course is a well-established parkland course with wonderful views. Founded in 1896 and extended to 18 holes in 1976, its lush, green fairways have been sympathetically laid out on the southern banks of the River Deveron.

The Wildlife and Nature in this region

The sandy coastlines of Morayshire and Aberdeenshire stretch from Stonehaven on the East coast to Nairn in the west. Short stretches of cliff run from Hopeman to Covesea and from Portknockie to Findochty and populations consist of Fulmars and Kittiwakes with a smaller number of Shags and Black Guillemots. The best rocky shores are between Burghead and Hopeman, at Lossiemouth and between Portgordon and Findochty.

Inland the areas then extend southwards to the Cairngorm mountains. Nearly half of the land exceeds 250m altitude and is therefore upland in nature. With the higher hills exceeding 600m including the arctic-alpine Cairngorm plateau, home to Ptarmigan, Snow Bunting and Dotterel. The extensive lower moorlands hold a good variety of scarcer species such as Merlin, Twite, Ring Ouzel and Whinchat. Golden Plovers are locally numerous, joined by a few Dunlin in wetter bogs. The extensive woodlands are largely composed of conifer plantations and in many areas these are sufficiently mature to have been colonised by Crested Tits, Siskins and crossbills. Capercaillies survive in small numbers. The younger moorland plantations hold breeding Black Grouse and Short-eared Owl and the birchwoods of the upland glens ring with the song of Willow warblers, Tree Pipits, Redstarts and Spotted Flycatchers in spring.

Winter waders include Purple Sandpipers in the muddy estuaries and the wide expanse of Findhorn Bay. In the Lossie and Spey rivers a wide variety of wildfowl, gulls and terns feed and roost on the estuaries and fishing ospreys are a regular feature in summer. Offshore, Burghead Bay and Spey Bay are well known for their flocks of wintering sea ducks with impressive rafts of scoters, Long-tailed Ducks and Eider. You will find some great viewpoints along the way, in particular looking over the broad sweep of Cullen Bay with its lovely golden sand and the Fiddle Rock – a curiously shaped rock formation – and past the opening known as the Whale’s Mouth.

The Moray Whisky Trail and Highland Games

Dufftown is famous for 2 annual Whisky Festivals in May and September. Dufftown itself is at the very heart of the Malt Whisky Trail. Whisky nosing and tasting sessions can be arranged all year at the Dufftown Whisky Shop. A chance to sample 6 different whiskies and to learn what makes them so different. The Whisky Festivals in 2006 are: the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival from Friday 28 April – Monday 1 May and Autumn Speyside Whisky Festival 22 – 25 September. From May to September each year, there are whisky nosings on Tuesday evenings and Ceilidhs on Thursday evenings. The Glenfiddich distillery is open to the public (free) while close by is the picturesque ruined Balvenie Castle with it’s renaissance facade maintained by Historic Scotland. Other local distilleries to visit and whiskies to taste include Macallan, Glen Grant, Glenfarclas, the Glenlivet (free tours), Aberlour and Cardhu.

Each year the village of Braemar, Scotland invites people from all over the world to attend the Braemar Gathering and Highland Games. The Gathering is always held on the first Saturday in September and it is perhaps the most famous and finest Highland Games anywhere. It features the finest Pipe Bands, pipers, Highland dancers, and athletes in a beautiful setting surrounded by hills. The patron of the Gathering is Her Majesty the Queen.

Activities on your doorstep

Here is a summary of attractions within this local area. Golf Courses this location provides easy access to many other wonderful golf courses; Huntly, Banff, Macduff, Oldmeldrum and Ellon to name but a few. Equestrian Activities – Aberdeenshire has the largest concentration of horses in Scotland and is the second largest in the UK. With this in mind you can imagine the amount of equestrian activities that are available around Turriff and the surrounding countryside; pony trekking, horse riding, driving and indoor & outdoor equestrian centres to name but a few.

Hill Walking and Climbing – One of the best ways to see any area and take in the splendour of the open countryside is on foot. From costal walks on the moray firth, to viewing the iron age vitrified forts while hill walking, or just simply enjoy and take in the spectacular views of Aberdeenshire. For the climber the Cairngorms are only an hour and a half’s drive from Turriff and offers some of the best climbing and Skiing that Scotland has to offer.

North East Scotland Falconry Centre – Offers an amazing opportunity to spend time with birds of prey. Enjoy learning basic falconry skills and handling techniques, meeting the birds and gaining an insight into the history of falconry. After an initial lesson you will be given the opportunity to handle and fly a selection of birds under the expert supervision of one of their experienced falconers. Or simply visit the centre and watch their experienced handlers display and fly the birds.

The Finest Scottish Castles

Fyvie Castle – Ghosts, legends and folklore are all woven into the tapestry of Fyvie’s 800-year history. Each tower of this magnificent Scottish Baronial fortress is traditionally associated with one of the castle’s five successive families – Preston, Meldrum, Seton, Gordon and Forbes-Leith. You can see their influences today among the medieval stones and the lavish Edwardian interiors, and imagine what castle life must have been like for the families and their royal guests – among them Robert the Bruce and Charles.

Delgatie Castle Turriff – Most recently the home of the late Capt. Hay of Delgatie, Feudal Baron, and is the Clan Hay Centre, this uniquely Scottish Castle has largely been in the Hay family for the last 650 years. It was taken from the Earl of Buchan after the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314, when Robert the Bruce routed the invading English army. Mary Queen of Scots stayed at Delgatie for three days after the Battle of Cirrichie in 1562. Her bedchamber is on view to the visitor. Aden Farming Museum – Relive the story of our famous farming past in the beautiful surroundings of Aden Country Park. Start at the unique, semi- circular Home Farm steading by exploring the “Aden Estate Story” and the “Weel Vrocht Grun” exhibitions. Visit Hareshowe, a working farm set in the 1950s. Award-winning displays & audio-visual shows, Guided tours and costume guides, See oatcakes baked at the Horseman’s House and verity of other Exhibitions Aberdeenshire has a rich culture and has so much to see and do, from visiting the Pictish Standing Stones going back nearly 3,000, follow the Whisky Trial and visit some of Scotland finest distilleries, the Moray Coast with its bottle nose dolphins and small picturesque fishing villages. There is so much to visit, we can guarantee you wont be disappointed.

Further afield there are literally dozens more Castles to visit from Ballindalloch Castle near Aberlour on the river Spey to Balmoral a beautiful drive over the mountains to Royal Deeside where you are spoilt for choice with Drum, Crathes, Craigevar or castle Fraser. Between Forres and Nairn is Brodie and Cawdor Castles and to the east of Dufftown is the ruined Huntly castle and close to Turiff is Fyvie castle above with its 5 towers and 5 centuries of history, further a field castles such Balmoral, Braemar, Crathes and castle Urquhart on Loch Ness or cities such as Aberdeen, Elgin, Forres and Inverness are easily accessible.

Evenings out and local area information

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This Cottage is located within the Coastal Fishing Village of Gardenstown, within walking distance of a food store, two cafes, a restaurant, pub, bakery, a post office, surgery and traditional crafts shops are all nearby. multiples of golf courses, shooting, fishing, shopping, pony trekking, historic buildings, castles and whisky distilleries (The Whisky Trail)

Northern Lights Group Accommodation

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Crow’s Nest is a large Luxury Detached Cottage perched on the hillside overlooking the beautiful Gamrie bay and Moray Firth comfortably accommodating 8 up to 10 people. Situated off a secluded shared private road this cottage is aptly named for its high vantage point over the beautiful Gamrie Bay. Recently renovated this beautiful cottage boasts a large lounge with solid oak flooring, a handmade kitchen with range cooker, 2 bedrooms on the ground floor and 2 bedrooms on the first floor.

A bathroom on each floor, one with whirlpool bath and the other with a designer oval bath and separate shower. On the ground floor there is also a dining room and separate utility room. There are 3 sofas and large comfy footstools. The eye is drawn immediately to the spectacular views over Gardenstown bay and the steep hills that tumble down to the sea. The lounge is at the front of the house and also overlooks the pretty front garden. The floor is made of solid oak, a handwoven Persian carpet, adds to the Luxury Feel. For cosy nights in there is a state of the art 46” HD LCD television.

The dining room overlooks the garden to the side of the house. The floor is also Crow’s Nest Holiday Cottage Gardenstown kitchen. solid oak with a Persian carpet on top of which stands the large antique dining table. The dining table can seat 8 people.

Crow’s Nest boasts a designer kitchen with freestanding kitchen units painted in Dining room for meals at the Crows Nest Farrow and Ball cream. There is a huge piecrust butler sink overlooking the garden to the side. Inside the freestanding kitchen units are a dishwasher and a fridge. There is ample storage in the cream painted dresser and the kitchen is completed with a matching cream electric freerange cooker. All the usual kitchen appliances, crockery and cutlery are found in the kitchen.

Bedroom 1 The first bedroom is downstairs and at the front of the house. From the window there Crows Nest lower double bedroom. are stunning views of the headland and bay below. The bedroom is furnished with a double antique Louis French bed on either side of which are two traditional oak bedside tables and two pretty wall lights. There is a very large walk in wardrobe with plentiful hanging and shelving space.

Bedroom 2 The second bedroom is also downstairs and overlooks the back garden. The Crows Nest second lower double bedroom. bedroom is furnished with a country style pine kingsize bed. There are large fitted wardrobes and the bedroom follows a seaside theme with a striped bedspread and nautical cushions.

Bedroom 3 The third bedroom is upstairs and is a twin bedroom with matching Edwardian burr Crows Nest twin bedroom. walnut beds. There is a pretty antique chest of drawers in between the two beds with a couple of dragonfly Tiffany lamps. The window has side views out over the sea.

Bedroom 4 The fourth bedroom is also upstairs and is the master bedroom. There is a kingsize antique Belgian bed with matching bedside tables and a burr walnut antique wardrobe. The bedroom is very spacious and the embroidered faux silk bedspread and cushions complete the opulent feel.

Complimentary broadband internet access. Complimentary tea, coffee and sugar. Electric heating throughout. Oak flooring in the lounge and hallway. Ecentric mix of modern and antique furniture. All heating and electricity costs, linen and towels included in the tariff.